Film cleaning and oiling machine.



C. M CONNER.

FILM CLEANlNG AND 01mm MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAX 1.1915.

J .4 6 Patented Oct. (44

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FILM CLEANING AND OILING MACHlNE.

APPLlCATION FILED MAY 3, 1916.

2 SHETSSHEET 2.

fdcccccccc C C E E CLAUDE M. CONNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FILM CLEANING AND OILING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

Application filed May 1, 1918. Serial No. 94,993.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE M. CORNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Film Cleaning and Oiling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cleaning and 011- ing mechanism for motion picture films wherein oiling rollers operate in conjunction with absorbent cleaning pads arranged to prevent the spreading of the oil onto the central or picture portion of the films, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide improved means that shall be extremely simple in operation and construction and arranged to oil and clean a motion picture film; second, to provide improved means arranged to exert suflicient pressure on the perforated edges of the move a portion of the oil therefrom and also to regulate the passage of the film through the device; third, to provide im proved means arranged to give the entire width of the film on both sides thereof an initial cleaning without scratching the gala tin or picture side of'said film; fourth, to provide an improved means arranged to oil the perforated edges only of a film; fifth, to provide improved means arranged to prevent the spreading of the oil onto the central or picture portion of the film and to clean the same simultaneously.

I accomplish these several features by means of the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the said specification and drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of my improved device disclosing the arrangement of the several parts. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the improved cleaning and oiling machine. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the runner provided to exert a tension on the perforated edges of the film. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tension regulating means for the runner and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the plates between which the film is threaded disclosing the arrangement of the absorbent cleaning pads and the manner in s to re-' which the runner engages the perforated edges of the film.

The present state of the art discloses varlous forms of devices, some for cleaning and other for oiling motion picture films. All of the devices are more or less complicated and require power to operate the same. These devices also are designed to oil theentire surface of the film including the central or picture portion. This feature is somewhat disadvantageous for the reason that the said picture portion does not contact with any portion of the running or film feeding gear and therefore the oil on said picture portion tends to gather dust and other matter which being opaque is projected onto the picture screen and tends to mat the projections of the subject.

propose to provide a simple, cheap and effective device which will prevent the oiling of the central portion of the film and clean the same simultaneously; also an improved device which is operated by the passage of the film therethrough thereby eliminating the necessity for driving mechanism which mlght tend to produce a strain on the film n its passage unless the cleaning mechanism is perfectly synchronized with the rewinding or other mechanism in conjunction with which it is used. v

Referring to the drawings; the numeral 1 is used to designate a suitable frame having a table 2 secured to the top thereof and the container 3 suspended from said table 2. The table 2 is provided with a longitudinally disposed central groove 4 within which rests a centrally grooved plate 6 having raised edges 7 arranged to engage and serve as a track or support for the under surface of the perforated edges of a motion picture film 9. A second plate 11 is hingedly secured at one edge to the table 2 and has a suitable securing latch 12 on the opposite side thereof. 7

What I term for purposes of illustration as a runner 14.- having longitudinal portions 16 arranged to engage the upper surfaces of the perforated edges of the film 9 is also provided with upwardly extending fingers 17 having lateral extensions 18 upon which springs 19 rest, said springs being secured to the upper plate 11. A T-shaped member 21 is also secured to the plate 11 and is operated by means of a tension regulating screw 22 for the purpose of regulating the tension of the springs and thereby the tension of the runner on the perforated edges of the film 9, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully described.

Pairs of parallel rollers 23 are rotatably mounted within the container 3 and are arranged to carry oil from the said container onto the perforated edges of the 9. The rollers 23 are also mounted within suitable grooves within the table 2. A second pair of rollers 24 are rotatably mounted on the upper plate 11 and are arranged to engage the upper surface of the perforated edges of the film 9 and to carry 011 thereonto from wicks 26 which depend from a suitable oil container 27 supported above the upper plate 11.

Absorbent pads 28 are mounted withln the grooved plate 6 and also on the upper plate 11, the upper pad being threaded beneath the struts 29 of the runner 14. The pads 28 are arranged to engage the central or picture portion of the film and thereby prevent the spreading of the oil from the rollers onto said central portion and also to thoroughly clean both surfaces of the said picture portions as the film 9 passes between said pads 28.

Suitable guide rollers 29 and 31 are placed beyond both ends of the plates 6 and 11 in order to guide the passage of the film 9 directly between the pads 28 and thereby provide an equal tension of both surfaces of said film 9 against said pads.

Apair of brushes 32 are secured to an adjustable arm 33 which is in turn secured to one end of the table 2 in front of the guide rollers 29 thereby providing an initial cleaning or brushing means arranged to remove loose dust, threads and the like from the film which might tend to scratch the same or to clog the pads and rollers of the cleaning and oiling mechanism.

The device is designed to be placed between the'motion' picture machine and the re-winding reels and the film 9 is pulled through the cleaning mechanism by said re- Winding reels thereby eliminating the necessity for operating mechanism for the device. As the film 9 is pulled through the device the perforated edges thereof are engaged and oiled by contact with the rollers 23 and 24 which carry oil from the containers 3 and 27 onto said perforated edges.

Any surplus oil is removed from the film by means of the longitudinal portions of the runner 14 and the raised edges 7 of the plate 6 between which the perforated edges of the film 9 pass. The amount of oil permitted to remain upon said perforated edges may be regulated by the pressure of the runner 14 which in turn is regulated by means of the springs 19 and the adjusting screw 22.

His obvious from the foregoing that I have provided improved means adapted to oil and clean the perforated edges of a motion picture film and also improved means adapted to prevent the spreading of the oil and to simultaneously clean said central or picture portion; also improved means adapted to regulate the tension ofthe film in 1ts passage through the cleaning mechanism and to regulate the amount of oil which is Dermitted to remain on the film.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A film cleaning and oiling machine comprising oil containers; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto they 1 to the picture or central portion of the films perforated edges of the film; means adapted\ to prevent the spreading of the-oil onto the picture or central portion of the film; and adjustable tension regulating means arranged to engage the perforated edges of the film and to remove a portion of the oil imparted thereto by the rollers.

2. A film cleaning and oiling machine comprising oil containers; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto the perforated edges of a film; means arranged between the rollers and adapted to clean and prevent the oil from spreading onto the picture or central portion of the fihn; and adjustable tension regulating means arranged to engage the perforated edges on one side of the film and to remove a portion of the oil therefrom.

3. A film cleaning and oiling machine comprising oil contalners; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto the perforated edges of a film; absorbent pads arranged between the rollers and adapted to engage and clean both sides of the central or picture portion of a film and thereby I prevent oil from the rollers spreading onto said picture portion; a runner arranged to engage both of the perforated edges of a film and partially remove oil therefrom;

and adjustable means adapted to regulate the tension of said runners on said film.

4. A film cleaning and oiling machine comprising oil containers; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto the perforated edges of the film only; a longitudinal plate having a groove therein arranged below the path of the film; a runner arranged above the path of the film and .arranged to engage the perforated edges thereof only and to partlally remove oil therefrom; means adapted to regulate the tension of the runner on the film; and-absorbent pads arranged above and below the central or picture portion of the film and arranged to prevent the spreading of oil onto said central portion and to clean the same simultaneously.

5. film cleanin and oiling machine comprising oilcontamers; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto the perforated edges of the film only; a longitudinal plate having a groove therein arranged below the path of the film; a runner arranged above the path of the film and arranged to engage the perforated edges thereof only and to partially remove oil therefrom; means adapted to regulate the tension of the runner on the film; absorbent pads arranged above and below the central or picture portion of the film and arranged to prevent the spreading of oil onto said central portion and to clean the same simultaneously; and suitable guide rollers arranged to guide a film between the rollers and absorbent pads. J

6. A film cleaning and oiling machine comprising oil containers; rollers arranged to carry oil from the containers onto [the perforated edgw of the film only; a longitudinal plate having a groove therein arranged below the ath of the film; a runner arranged above t e path of the film and arranged to engage the perforated edges thereof only and to partially remove oil therefrom; means adapted to regulate the tension of the runner on the film; absorbent pads arranged above and below the central or picture portion of the film and arranged to prevent the spreading of oil onto said central portion'and to clean the same simultaneously; suitable guide rollers arranged to guide a film between the rollers and absorbent pads; and means secured in front of one set of guide rollers and arranged to engage both sides of the film and thereby remove the dust and like therefrom.

therefrom; means adapted to regulate the tension of the runner on the film; absorbent pads arranged above and below the central or picture portion of the film and arranged to prevent the spreading of oil onto said central portion and to clean the same simultaneously; suitable guide rollers arranged to guide a film between the rollers and absorbent pads; and suitable brushes secured beyond the guide rollers and arranged to engage both. sides of a film and thereby remove dust and the like therefrom.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

CLAUDE M. CONNER. 

